I have the most awesome husband in the world!

I couldn't resist posting this to my blog. I've been having a tough week - very busy at work, lots of things going on in the evening, and I'm just feeling really tired and burned out. Big reason is because I've started tapering for my race on June 25th so my body is going into super-recovery mode and is hating me :) Plus it's been hot hot hot this week. Then I get to work this morning and there's this amazing evite email in my inbox. Nearly brought tears to my eyes!

Amanda's Day Off
Host: Gordon McGregor

Location:	Home 9305 Manipari Lane, Austin, TX
When:	Saturday, June 17, 1:00pm
So here's the deal. You still have to do your run on the Saturday morning. Then you are booking yourself in to Lake Austin Spa for the half day package. Off you go, get pampered, have fun. You've earned it. I'll do the washing and clear the laundry pile out. Take my car. I'll wash yours while you are out. Come home, I'm making you a healthy, slap up 3 course dinner. Relax. Chill out. Enjoy. Sink in to the fresh sheets. Then wake up late, stroll down to Fado's and watch Australia beat Brazil.

Blues on the Green

So this morning Gordon and I were supposed to do a bike ride plus run before going to work... but after yesterday's sprint run workout in the morning and sprint swim workout in the evening we were both (understandably) feeling a little tired and decided to take the morning off. So we made espresso with our new espresso machine and had breakfast instead.

Tonight is the season kick-off of Blues on the Green in Zilker Park. We're going to bring a picnic and a rug and hang out with some friends and listen to some blues. Should be great! It's another hot day in Austin which means it should be a gorgeous evening for laying out and relaxing to some music.

Eeek, I'm 30!

So I turned 30 yesterday. I'm really excited about it! At least, I'm excited right now. Maybe the shock still needs to wear off? Anyway, so it was a really great weekend. Because of the time zone difference, I tend to have an extended birthday. So the celebrations started on Saturday and Gordon took me out for dinner to
Zoot. We did the 5 course chef tasting menu with wine pairings. It was delicious! Highly, highly recommend it, and we'll definitely be going back again. Sunday it was an early start followed by a short (30mi) bike ride, which consisted of some hill sprint races between Gordon and myself. Now that was fun! Then we went home, chilled out, had lunch, and headed out to Opal Divine's for some birthday drinks with friends. It was a great turnout. I feel very lucky to have so many good friends here in Austin. It was a great afternoon to sit back and have a few drinks and enjoy the warm (hot!) Austin weather. Sunday night I got to chat to Mum & Dad, and Kate, and that just topped off my day perfectly! Gordon took a few photos.

Amanda xxx

No rain in Seattle

Well, I'm currently in Seattle on a business trip. It's not raining! Although it is quite cool and is only in the low 70's. I'm feeling a bit cold, coming from the heat of Texas! I didn't manage to run this morning due to work commitments, but I'm hoping to get a run in tomorrow morning. Apparently there's a really nice trail just by the hotel that extends for several miles so I should be able to get a decent run in.

The funniest thing happened at Austin airport yesterday. I was sitting in the departure lounge waiting for my flight to Dallas. I noticed someone sit down next to me, but didn't look up at them (I was happy just reading my book and ignoring the world). About half an hour later I hear "Amanda!". I turned next to me and saw that I had been sitting next to Marla for the past 30 minutes and neither of us had realised until just now. Hilarious!

Time to sign off and enjoy my hot chocolate and read my book...

Well, it has been quite a weekend! Busy, but really really good. We did a couple of hard workouts - 13 mile long run Saturday morning with some easy swimming at Barton Springs afterwards, 3hr ride plus 30min transition run on Sunday morning. The workouts went great. The long run was tough for the last mile, but other than that felt good. The brick today felt great!!! So now I feel all psyched and ready to do Buffalo Springs... and now I get to start tapering! We also did a few other fun things on the weekend - saw XMEN-3 yesterday afternoon, went out for sushi, did a bit of furniture shopping, went out for lunch today, and Gordon topped off the weekend by cooking a delicious shrimp risotto, yum!

I start off my taper with a business trip to Seattle for the next couple of days. Should be a good trip! Then I'm back on Wednesday night ready for an easy couple of days before my birthday weekend :)

Oh, and I got my first birthday present from Gordon yesterday - a carbon fiber wallet. It is SO cool!!!